2007 Business Plan Competition Results

SEVERNA PARK STUDENT WINS ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

A Severna Park High School senior who had already earned 12 college credits at Anne Arundel Community College won first place in the fourth annual business competition hosted by the colleges Entrepreneurial Studies Institute. Matt Guanti of Severna Park won $2500 from event corporate sponsor BB&T for his proposal involving a mortgage lending and financial advising corporation called Homeland Trust. He graduated from high school in June and is now a student at Virginia Tech.    

2006 Business Plan Competition Results

PASADENA STUDENT WINS ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

      A home-based nautical photography business was awarded top prize in the third annual Business Plan Competition hosted by the Entrepreneurial Studies Institute at Anne Arundel Community College.

      Catherine Day of Pasadena took home $2,000 for CoManD Photography, a home-based photo studio and print shop specializing in custom photos of sailing, sailboats and the Chesapeake Bay. Held Wednesday, April 26, in the Cade Center for Fine Arts Room 207 on the AACC Arnold campus, the competition – sponsored by BB&T Bank -- is a showcase of business venture ideas by former and current AACC students. All contestants were AACC students who completed at least one course between Jan. 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006.

      Thomas Taylor of Glen Burnie took home the competition’s $1,000 second-place prize for his business venture idea, JT Billiards, a billiards parlor, restaurant and bar.  Bonnie Natcher received $500 for third place with her business plan For the Win a LAN-center holding equipment and space for computer, console, and board gaming.

      In addition to the $2,000 cash prize, Day won the exclusive use of a cubicle in the AACC Hatchery, a small business resource center in Careers Center Room 100. The space is complete with a computer, printer, Internet access and a phone.

      “The winners achieved a tremendous accomplishment in presenting top-notch ideas to a panel of distinguished judges representing the local business and finance communities and entrepreneurial interests,” said institute Director Carlene Cassidy. “They got a chance to put their foot in the door and understand just how much work goes into making a business a long-lasting success.”

      All plans submitted to the competition were original ideas involving a new start-up venture, a new product or market development of an existing venture less than three years old. A six-person selection committee narrowed the submissions down to three top finalists. Those three finalists presented their business idea to a three-judge panel comprised of entrepreneurs, investors and commercial lenders. Presentations simulated mock investor presentations. Panel judges were: Griff Hall, executive director of Leadership Anne Arundel, a local nonprofit leadership training group; Patricia H. Troy, president of FacetsWoman, Inc. and Michael Williams, senior vice president of BB&T Bank.

2005 Business Plan Competition Results

Jamie Pack, the winner of the the 2005 BB&T Business Plan Competition received $1,500 and the opportunity to occupy an office cubicle rent free for one year in ESI's small business resource center (the Hatchery).

Carie Cowing received a check for $1,000 for her second place finish and Nicole Zseltvay received $500 for third place.